Driving in the Rain, I’m Driving in the Rain…

Driving is already dangerous enough with texting, road rage and drunk drivers but Mother Nature just loves making it worse. To be sure nature is a harsh mistress and the majority of the United States has some form of dangerous environmental dangers to drive in. In the South it is flash floods and thunderstorms. In the North is snow and ice. The Northwest has both and even somewhere generally pleasant like Southern California can have the Santa Ana winds. Here are some tips for dealing with rain.

When it Rains…

First of all turn your head lights on. If the rain is especially heavy you may even turn your hazards on. Worst case scenario you may have to pull over and wait it out. That being said here are some tips.

Drive Slow and Take Your Time

– Rain is no time to be in a hurry and will result in a surefire wreck. Plan to take your time. Yes, that mean leaving for work fifteen or twenty minutes earlier but it is better than totaling your car. This also means give yourself more time to start taping the brakes. Don’t wait until you are right in front of the red light, give yourself time.

Never Slam the Breaks

– When it rains the roads become slick for two reasons. Obviously there is the water but what a lot of people don’t realize is that oil and grease build up on the road as well. When it rains these chemicals float on the water and make it slicker. Fortunately most cars have Antilock Brakes (ABS.) Most cars, even used vehicles from the last two decades, have ABS. Your ABS will automatically adjust to road conditions. If you don’t have ABS then slowly pump the brakes until you stop. Slamming the break is a sure fire way to cause you to skid out. Instead tap the break repeatedly as you slow down.

Avoid Deep Water –

If you live in a flash flood area you will know how quickly water can rise up. Areas that look okay can be deceptively deep. Watch the cars ahead to see how well they do. If a truck has problems going through it then your Camry most assuredly will so plan on going around a different route. Avoid deep puddles as well. They cause drag on your car and could spray enough water into the engine to stall out. Stay to the middle of the road if you can.